Our House
Do you think you have a foundation issue? As a homeowner, this can be very alarming. You may ask yourself, “What should I do?” or “What could be causing this?” Read on for answers to these questions.
3 Common Causes of Foundation Issues
1. Settling. Houses settle naturally with the weight of the house and the ground underneath shifting. There may be hairline cracks which are a common result of normal settlement. Look for large cracks that suddenly appear. If a crack is wider than an eighth of an inch, you may have a foundation problem.
2. Soil erosion. This can cause the foundation to shift which in turn causes cracks in your walls. This could be caused by flooding, drought, and extreme amounts of rain.
3. Poor drainage. This will sneak up on you since it happens over time. Be sure your drainage is 10-12 feet away from your foundation.
Some signs you can look for include separation around windows and/or walls, cracked bricks, broken or cracked foundations, cracked sheetrock, cracks in the floor, and uneven floors. If you find any of the above in your interior and/or exterior walls, act quickly.
Here are some concerns resulting from foundation settlement:
- Damage to the structure
- Loss of real estate value
- Tripping hazards
- Unsightly cracks
Our team at Parrot Structural Services will be glad to come out at no charge to you, assess your problem, and give you our professional opinion. You will then be able to make any necessary repairs and address the underlying cause. Visit www.parrotstructural.com or call us at 205-668-2626.
-Joan Maas
Owner of Parrot Structural Services, LLC
